Research

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of maps depicting a range of wildlife habitats in urban areas throughout the state. The maps were produced by the Division of Fish and Wildlife as part of its responsibility to maintain an inventory of the state's wildlife and protect natural resources and the environment. The series includes 107 mylar overlays entitled "Urban Wildlife Habitat Inventory Overlay Maps," and 24 "Urban Area Enlargement" print maps (paper). Habitat areas are apparently demarcated on the mylar overlays by alpha-numeric codes; no legend appears to explain these codes.

The overlays are done to a scale of 1:9600 (1 inch = 800 feet). They are without standard neat lines; sheet sizes vary and are roughly cut. Approximate size is 91.5 x 124 cm (36 x 49 inches) or larger. A box in the lower right corner identifies each map by quadrangle name, urbanized area, and county covered by the map. Also included is the date of the photography upon which the map is based (ranging from 1973 to 1976) and the date of preparation (various months during 1979). Standard information includes a statement that the map was "Prepared by the Habitat Inventory Unit and the Urban Wildlife Environments Unit." The coverage is statewide, representing all major urban areas (including Albany and the Capital District, Binghamton, Buffalo, Long Island, all New York City boroughs, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Westchester).

The black and white print maps are labeled as "1:9600 planimetric quad series" published by the Department of Transportation. They typically measure 72.5 x 107 cm (28.5 x 42 inches) within neat lines, on a sheet sized 91.5 x 122 cm (36 x 48 inches). The print maps cover the following counties (some of which overlap): Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, and Westchester. These maps are apparently the base maps with which some of the overlays may be used.